St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-09
WARNING CHRISTIANS.
An Exciting Row in the st. Paul Pres
bytsry Over the First 0hurch's
Attitude.
Members Give the Lie Direct and In
dulge in the Peculiar Tactics of a
Ward Primary.
The Presbyterian Alliance Discusses
the support of the Work of
Home Missions.
East Side Mission Meetings. Congre-
gationalists and Bapttsts De-
wise Plans.

The st. Paul Presbytery had regular
monkey and parrot time yesterday after
noon. The meeting was held in the Fifth
church, in Oak Lake addition, and was
quite well attended. though several of the
leading ministers were absent. Rev. DR..
Woods, of st. Paul, the moderator pre-.
sided. Rev. j. S. Boyd was granted
letter to the Presbytery of Winona,
after which the real business of
the meeting was introduced, it being the
report of the commission on the First
churh of ST. Paul, which was read by Rev.
DIR. Boardman. At its last meeting the
presbytery created the commission and in
structed it to interview tile trustees of the
First church and order them, in the name
of the presbytery, to open the church for
public worship. The report informed the
presbytery that it had performed that duty,
but it had been met by firm refusal
from the trustees. who thus placed
their church in an attitude of defiance
to the presbytery. The report argued at
length the evil that must result FROM such a
precedent. In the Presbyterian church the
congregation owes allegiance to the presby-
terry, which holds the same relation to the
church that a captain does to an army
the congregation obeys the presbytery,
which, in turn. is controlled by the synod,
whose power comes from the general as
Sembly. When congregation refuses to
obey the orders of the presbytery it violates
fundamental law of Presbyterlanism and
becomes more of a Congregational church.
The report concluded by saying tnat those
members who remained loyal to the presby-
terry are anxious to have the order OF the
commission obeyed, and have carried the
case into the civil courts.
THE TROUBLE
is one between the pastor, DR.. West and a
large proportion of his church; 1t was thor
oughly ventilated in the newspapers when
the trouble began and need not now be re-
peated. A motion to accept the report of
the commission and place it on
file called forth hot and
acrimonious debate, which developed no
little bitterness, and showed that the
brethren were not possessed OF sufficient
grace to endure all things by long way
DR.. West was present and took a lively
part in the discussion. The opposition to
him was led by DR.. McLaren. of st. Paul.
A great deal was said that had no bearing
on the question under +. discussion, and
finally point of order was raised by Rev.
Patterson to that effect. Just at that mo-
ment DR.. Vests opponents were throwing
hot shot and the moderator evidently
approved the ammunition and over
ruled the point Of order. Mr. Patterson
appealed from the moderator'S decision and
the appeal was sustained by the preSby.
terry. A motion to lay the report ON the
table was lost. as also was a motion to adj
jOurn. Rev. Donaldson moved to amend by
declaring the presbytery ratifies the action
of the commission ordering the trustees of
the First church to open their church for
public worship. Again the discussion be-
came warm. and during the course of it
DIR. West turned to DR.. McLaren (who
had just said that Dr.. West refused the
call of the First church) and pointing his
finger at him said:
THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE FALsEHoODv'
and he said it with all earneStnesS and vigor
that left no doubt of his meaning. A dozen
men were on their feet in an instant. and
the moderator was in perfect middle.
One gentleman remarked that he stlIad
never seen such scenes in this presbytery
as have been enacted since DR.. West has
been i'll it." But that good man was .undis-
mayed. He insisted on recognition from
man to assail his character. He
then said that both sides in the
church had filed complaints before the
synod of Minnesota, and that action had
entirely removed the case from the juris-
diction of this Presbytery. Rev. Donald
son made an earnest plea to the First
church to reopen its doors and acknowledge
the authority of the Presbytery. Almost
every speaker was interrupted by DR.. West,
who attempted at one time to spring long
manuscript vindication on the assembly.
but he was promptly squelched. In reply
to Rev. Donaldson Rev. Cochran said he
was authorized to say that the First
church would be opened at any time
to the State Missionary, but
the Presbytery was not at all inclined to
accept any such proposition. DR.. Nc
Curdy, the chairman of the commission.
closed the discussion in strong speech, in
which he said the action taken by the com.
mission had been performed under the di-
rect instruction of the Presbytery; the
members of the commission had obeyed
orders. and the First church had
REFUSED TO OPEN THE DOORS.
If the Presbytery declined to ratfy the
action OF the commission. it merely contra
dicted itself and placed the gentlemen on
| the commission in avery awkward posi-
| ton; it would show the Presbytery to have
been insincere in its former action. The
doctor attempted to say few words for DR..
| West. but he was called to older. He made
strong argument, and the amendment
| carried. The Presbytery Immediately adj
| jonrned, the moderator making the closing
player, in which he earnestly prayed for a
blessing on the brethren, and that peace
and harmony might prevail.
The Presbyterian Alliance.
The Presby terrain alliance met last night
| in the lecture room of Westminster church.
with about twenty-five gentlemen present.
Rev. j. NJ. Patterson. the president. intro
duced Rev. Mr.. Caldwell, of the Shiloah
church, who read an able paper Oh ..Shall